Envelope opening means



1958 's. c. SANDSTROM- 2,358,971

ENVELOPE OPENING MEANS Filed June 1, 1956 .2 1;. .7. 22' INVENTOR.

STEPHEN GSQNDQTRDM BY United States Patent ENVELOPE OPENING MEANS Stephen C. Sandstrom, Lyndhurst, N. J.

Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,681

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-86) This invention concerns an envelope provided with means for facilitating its opening when sealed.

The invention has for one object the provision of an envelope blank which has a string or strip opening means extending in one or more directions thereon so that when an envelope is formed the opening means is secured at one or more folds.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plastic strip opening means for an envelope with perforations in the envelope to facilitate opening the sealed envelope.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of an envelope embodying one form of my invention with a portion cut away showing internal parts. i

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of an envelope showing a modified arrangement of the self-opening means, parts being shown broken away.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of an envelope embodying another modification of the invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of envelope blanks embodying other modified forms of the invention.

Figs. 6 and 7 are rear and front elevational views of an envelope embodying the modification of the invention of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 is shown a rectangular envelope 10 having tapered side flaps 12 and 14, a tapered bottom flap 13, and a tapered upper flap 11 and a front rectangular body portion 16. Disposed in or adjacent the bottom fold 17 and lateral fold 18 is a continuous string, cord or thread 19. One end 22 of the thread extends out of the envelope at the junction of lateral fold 18 and top fold 23. The thread is secured in the folds 17, 18 by a continuous band of an adhesive such as glue or cement 25 underlying or overlying the thread 19. The extent of the adhesive and thread enclosed in folds 17 and 18 is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 the thread 19 is secured by adhesive 25 in the lateral fold 26. It will be noted that in both Figs. 1 and 2, the enclosed thread is placed in the permanent folds 17, 18 and/or 26 that fold 23 is clear so that when the flap 11 is open before sealing the top opening is free and unobstructed by the opening means 19, 25.

In Fig. 3 the string 19 is secured only in the lower fold 17 by the adhesive 25 and the end 22 of the thread extends out of the intersection of folds 18 and 17.

To open the envelopes of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it is only necessary to pull the string outwardly parallel to the plane of the envelope to out they fold or folds along which the string is disposed.

In Fig. 4 is shown a paper blank from which the enve-.

lope 10 is formed. The blank is shown without folds but the lines along which the folds will be made are indicated by dotted lines 20, 21, 23, 26. In this embodiment the thread 19 is secured at the bases of flaps 13, 14 by spots 25 of adhesive spaced at intervals along the thread. In pulling the thread some or all of the spots of adhesive come off with the thread and serve as hard cutting elements to assist in severing the folds along which the thread is disposed in the finished envelope.

, The blank shown in Fig. 4 may constitute an article of manufacture since in this flat form considerably less space in storage and transportation of large quantities of blanks is needed as compared with the space required for finished, folded envelopes. Also, certain high speed printing processes may be more readily performed with flat blanks than is possible with finished envelopes. After the opening means is attached and printing is completed the flaps of the envelope may be folded as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and the edges of the flaps will be secured to each other by adhesive in conventional manner.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 a modification of the invention is shown in which a narrow strip 30 of a thin plastic material is disposed at the base of flap 13. The strip is attached to the body of the paper blank by a continuous band 31 of adhesive which extends only along a portion of the strip 30 from fold 26 to an intermediate point. Spots 25 of adhesive are disposed at spaced intervals along the strip. The end 22' of the strip extends out of the junction of flaps 1'3, 14. The blank is perforated by rows of slits or holes 32, 33. Either one or both rows of perforations may be provided. One row 33 of perforations extends across the front or central body portion 16 and the side flaps 12 and 14. The other row 32 extends across flap 13. When the envelope 10' is formed by folding flaps 12, 13, 14 over body portion 16, the rows 32, 33 will be superimposed with the strip 30 enclosed at fold 17. These perforations will facilitate opening the envelope since a narrow strip 17' will be torn off when the projecting edge 22' is grasped, as shown in Fig. 7.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is:

An envelope comprising a central front rectangular body portion having a plurality of overlying adjoining flaps, said body portion having a row of closely spaced perforations near one long edge thereof, a narrow strip of plastic material in a fold of one flap at said one long edge, a band of cement extending continuously from one end of the strip to an intermediate point therealong, and a plurality of spots of cement at spaced intervals along the remaining portion of the strip, said one flap having a row of closely spaced perforations juxtaposed to the row of perforations in said front body portion, said strip having an end extending outside of the envelope to facilitate initial tearing of the envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,093,695 Grizzard Apr. 21, 1914 1,229,679 Urchniak June 12, 1917 1,821,011 Greenlaw Sept. 1, 1931 2,000,797 Swift May 7, 1935 2,162,958 MacDonald June 20, 1939 2,750,102 Thurman June 12, 1956 

